Cary
5 October 2012
VIRGIN ISLANDS FAMILIES
Cary/Carey
Origin:
Related Families: Grutsmann
V.I. Locations: St. Croix, Tortola
Contributor: Svend E. Holsoe
William Cary was from St. Eustatius. 1
He was living in about 1716 on Tortola with a wife, 3 children and 3 enslaved
persons.2
On 14 November 1717, he and his family, which consisted of his wife and three
children, along with 4 enslaved people were accounted for as living on Tortola.3
Prior to 6 January 1717/1718, William Carey along with several others from
Tortola and Spanish Town petitioned the British King for permission to settle on St.
Croix. 4
---------------Susanna [Cary] was born in about 1726.5
She was married to W. Cary, who was dead by 24 April 1765.
On 24 April 1765, she sold a fenced property with a house, along with 15 lots at
the southern boundary of Christiansted, and which was called commonly “Mr. Cary’s
Lots”, along with a black man named Pompy to Samuel Brown, Gentleman, for 550
pounds.6
She was married on 3 September 1767 at Mrs. Cary's residence on St. Croix by
the Anglican Priest to Tycho Christian Grutsmann, 7 who was the Manager of
Provisions and Ammunition for the government.
1
British National Archives, Kew, CO 152/12/2, no. 67, viii.
National Archives, Kew, CO 152/11/no. 6 (vi), “A List of the Inhabitants of Tortola, Spanish Town and
Beef Island.”
3
British National Archives, Kew, CO 152/12/2, no. 67, viii.
4
British National Archives, Kew, CO 152/12/2, no. 67, vii
.
5
St. John's Anglican Church, Christiansted, Church Book, Burials, 1761-1878, 28 February 1768.
6
RA, VILA, 38.26.07, Christiansted Byfoged, Panteprotokol, Litra H (1765-67), f. 15, no. 2.
7
St. John's Anglican Church, Christiansted, Church Book, Marriages, 1761-1787, f. 3. On 20 February
1768, Susanna "Gage," being weak in body” made a will making her husband, Tycho Christian Grustman
sole heir to her estate. See: RA, Dansk Cancelli, D.36, Vestindisk Journal, 1741-1771, ff. 501v-503,
Susanna Gage's will dated 20 February 1768.
2
1
She was buried on 28 February 1768 in the Anglican Churchyard, aged 42 years
old.
8
---------------------------Richard Cary was residing in 1784 at Cornelius Peter Low’s estate at 3 Queen’s
Quarter.9
8
9
St. John's Anglican Church, Christiansted, Church Book, Burials, 1761-1878, 28 February 1768.
NARA, RG55, St. Croix Matricle, 1784, f. 39, 3 Queen’s Quarter.
2
APPENDIX
Susanna Cary, widow of W. Cary:
Enslaved Persons
Pompy
He was an adult man, in Christiansted, who was sold on 24 April 1765 by
Susanna Cary to Samuel Brown, Gentleman. 10
10
RA, VILA, 38.26.07, Christiansted Byfoged, Panteprotokol, Litra H (1765-67), f. 15, no. 2.
3